Wide-area vacuum/squeegee head floor cleaning tool

ABSTRACT

A particular wide-area vacuum/squeegee-head floor cleaning tool, in accordance with the principles of the invention, includes: an elongated frame including a top, a front, a back, a first end, a second end, and a soil uptake opening positioned between the first and second ends; at least one squeegee blade at the front and extending between the first and second ends; at least one squeegee blade at the back and extending between the first and second ends; a first wheel at the first end; a second wheel at the second end; and a third wheel at the soil uptake opening. The first, second, and third wheels are constructed and arranged to support the elongated frame above a floor surface when the squeegee blades at the front and back are in contact with the floor surface in a deflected orientation and vacuum suction is applied to the floor cleaning tool by the vacuum source.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This patent document claims the benefit of the filing date ofProvisional Application No. 61/557,912, entitled “Wide-Area FloorCleaning Tool” and filed on Nov. 10, 2011. The entire disclosure ofProvisional Application No. 61/557,912 is incorporated into this patentdocument by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to floor cleaning tools for use with a vacuumsource, and more particularly, to vacuum/squeegee head floor cleaningtools.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Historically, vacuum/squeegee head cleaning tools in the commercial,industrial, and institutional cleaning industry have had relativelynarrow widths, with the frames having a width of about 14 inches. Whilethese tools can be particularly useful when cleaning in narrow or tightspaces (e.g., in cleaning under and around office or classroomfurniture, in cleaning stairwells, and the like), they are not veryefficient when used to clean relatively wide areas (e.g., hallways,lobbies, gyms, and the like).

Kaivac, Inc. of Hamilton, Ohio overcame this problem by introducing theKaiAuto™ wide-area vacuum/squeegee head cleaning tool. The KaiAuto toolhas a rigid elongated frame or housing made of aluminum—with one versionof the tool having a frame width of about 28 inches, and another versionof the tool having a frame width of about 42 inches. Both versions ofthe KaiAuto product dramatically increase worker productivity,especially when used to clean relatively wide areas; and the KaiAutoproduct has been a commercial success.

As noted above, the elongated frame of the KaiAuto tool is a rigid frameformed of a lightweight aluminum. Nonetheless, because the frame iswide, the tool understandably is heavier than a conventionalvacuum/squeegee head cleaning tool, a tool that has a 14-inch wideframe. And for some end-users (e.g., some custodians and other cleaningprofessionals), the additional weight can be somewhat fatiguing.Accordingly, it would be beneficial to have a wide-area vacuum/squeegeehead cleaning tool that is even lighter in weight but that does notcompromise cleaning effectiveness.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, a wide-area vacuum/squeegee-head floor cleaning tool, inaccordance with the principles of the invention, includes: an elongatedframe including a top, a front, a back, a first end, a second end, and asoil uptake opening positioned between the first and second ends; atleast one squeegee blade at the front and extending between the firstand second ends; at least one squeegee blade at the back and extendingbetween the first and second ends; a first wheel at the first end; asecond wheel at the second end; and a third wheel at the soil uptakeopening. The first, second, and third wheels are constructed andarranged to support the elongated frame above a floor surface when thesqueegee blades at the front and back are in contact with the floorsurface in a deflected orientation and vacuum suction is applied to thefloor cleaning tool by the vacuum source.

In another aspect of the invention, the soil uptake opening is centrallypositioned between the elongated-frame first and second ends.

In a further aspect of the invention, the third wheel is centrallypositioned between the elongated-frame first and second ends.

In an additional aspect of the invention, the elongated frame, thesqueegee blade at the front, and the squeegee blade at the back assistin defining an interior space; and the floor cleaning tool furtherincludes an interior frame at the soil uptake opening. The interiorframe includes a first wall member in the interior space and extendingbetween the front and back of the elongated frame. The first wall memberassists in facilitating airflow toward and through the soil uptakeopening when vacuum suction is applied to the floor cleaning tool by thevacuum source.

In yet another aspect of the invention, the first wall member includes aportion generally perpendicular to the front and back of the elongatedframe. The portion assists in facilitating airflow toward and throughthe soil uptake opening.

In yet a further aspect of the invention, the first wall member portionincludes a generally vertical surface. The surface assists infacilitating airflow toward and through the soil uptake opening.

In yet an additional aspect of the invention, the elongated frame has alongitudinal axis and the interior frame further includes a second wallmember spaced laterally from the first wall member relative to thelongitudinal axis. The second wall member is in the interior space andextends between the front and back of the elongated frame. The secondwall member assists in facilitating airflow toward and through the soiluptake opening when vacuum suction is applied to the floor cleaning toolby the vacuum source.

In another aspect of the invention, the second wall member includes aportion generally perpendicular to the front and back of the elongatedframe. The portion assists in facilitating airflow toward and throughthe soil uptake opening.

In a further aspect of the invention, the second wall member portionincludes a generally vertical surface. The surface assists infacilitating airflow toward and through the soil uptake opening.

In an additional aspect of the invention, the third wheel is positionedbetween the interior frame first and second wall members.

In yet another aspect of the invention, the at least one squeegee bladeat the front includes at least two squeegee blades positioned end-to-endin a first row; and the at least one squeegee blade at the back includesat least two squeegee blades positioned end-to-end in a second row.

In yet a further aspect of the invention, the elongated frame comprisesa plastic having a flexural modulus of elasticity of about 300,000 PSIor higher, at about 73° F.

In yet an additional aspect of the invention, the third wheel may bepositioned from about 0.010 inch to about 0.050 inch higher than thefirst and second end wheels.

In another aspect of the invention, the squeegee blades have a type Adurometer of from about 45 to about 55.

In a further aspect of the invention, the elongated frame has alongitudinal axis, and a width in the direction of the longitudinal axisof from about 26 inches to about 30 inches.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in, and constitute apart of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention,and, together with the general description of the invention given above,and the detailed description of the drawings given below, serve toexplain the principles of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the wide-areavacuum/squeegee head floor cleaning tool, in accordance with theprinciples of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the floor cleaning tool of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the floor cleaning tool of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a front view of the floor cleaning tool of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a back view of the floor cleaning tool of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a middle section or portion of the floorcleaning tool of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is another perspective view of a middle section or portion of thefloor cleaning tool of FIG. 1, with the squeegee blade assemblies havingbeen removed (for illustration purposes);

FIG. 8 is a bottom view of a middle section or portion of the floorcleaning tool of FIG. 1, with the center wheel assembly, the centerwheel frame, and the squeegee blade assemblies having been removed (forillustration purposes);

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the center wheel assembly, the centerwheel frame, a front squeegee blade assembly, and a back squeegee bladeassembly of the floor cleaning tool shown in FIG. 1, in a partiallyassembled state;

FIG. 10 is a perspective, partial cross-sectional view of a portion ofthe floor cleaning tool of FIG. 1, taken along line 10-10 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 11 is a side view of the floor cleaning tool of FIG. 1, with thetool supported on a floor surface;

FIG. 12 is another side view of the floor cleaning tool of FIG. 1, withthe tool supported on a floor surface, and with the tool in an activestate in which vacuum suction is being applied and the tool is beingmoved forward;

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the floor cleaningtool of FIG. 1, taken along line 13-13 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the floor cleaningtool of FIG. 1, taken along line 13-13 of FIG. 3, with the tool in anactive state in which vacuum suction is being applied and the tool isbeing moved forward.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

With reference to FIGS. 1-5, a wide-area floor cleaning tool 10, inaccordance with the principles of the invention, includes: an elongatedframe 12 comprising a front in the form of a front wall 14, a back inthe form of a back wall 16, a top in the form of a top wall 18 extendingbetween the front wall 14 and the back wall 16, a first end including afirst end wall 20, a second end including a second end wall 22, and asoil uptake opening 24 centrally located between the first and secondends; a generally straight first row of two squeegee blades 26 a,b atthe front wall 14, with the blades positioned end to end; a generallystraight second row of two squeegee blades 28 a,b at the back wall 16,with the blades positioned end to end; and a first wheel 30 at theelongated frame first end, a second wheel 32 at the elongated framesecond end, and a center wheel 34 at the soil uptake opening. Theelongated frame, first row, and second row define an interior space. Thewide-area floor cleaning tool may be fluidly connected to a vacuumsource (not shown).

Referring to FIGS. 1-5, the front wall 14 depends from the top wall 18,the back wall depends from the top wall 18, the first end wall 20depends from the top wall 18, and the second end wall 22 depends fromthe top wall 18. The top wall, front wall, and back wall are coextensivein length. In addition, the front wall is substantially parallel to theback wall.

The soil uptake opening 24 includes a segment of tubing 36. The tubingsegment 36 has a generally elbow-like shape, and includes acircumferential sidewall, a soil inlet 38, and a soil outlet 40. Thetubing segment 36 extends up and back, beyond the back wall of theelongated frame 12, ending at the outlet 48. The portion of the tubingsegment 36 that extends beyond the back wall may be releasably connectedto a vacuum source (not shown). The segment of tubing 36 includes acrown portion 37 and a cylindrical extension portion 39 integrallyconnected to the crown portion. The crown portion includes an exteriorwall, with the crown portion exterior wall forming a part of the topwall 18.

With reference to FIGS. 2 and 11-14, each of the first and second wheels30, 32 is connected to the elongated frame 12 via a wheel mountingbracket (as at 31), with each wheel and corresponding mounting bracketforming a wheel assembly. Such a wheel assembly also may be seen incommonly owned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/963,886, entitled“Wide-Area Floor Cleaning Tool” and filed on Oct. 12, 2004. See, e.g.,FIGS. 2 and 5 and the corresponding text in the '886 Application (firstwheel assembly 50, including wheel 52 and wheel mounting assembly 54).The entire disclosure of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/963,886 isincorporated into this patent document by reference.

Referring to FIGS. 2, 6-9, 13, and 14, the center wheel 34 is positionedat the center of the tool 10, just below the soil uptake opening 24. Asseen in FIGS. 6-9, the center wheel 34 is positioned in a center wheelmounting bracket 44, thereby forming a center wheel assembly. The centerwheel assembly 34, 44 is positioned in and mounted to an interior framein the form of center wheel frame 46; and the center wheel frame ismounted to the elongated frame 12. The center wheel frame 46 includes afirst wall member and a second wall member in the form of a pair ofvertically oriented, downwardly extending, laterally spaced apart, firstand second wall members 48, 50. Each wall member 48, 50 includes a wallmember portion in the form of a center wall portion (as at 52); eachwall member 48, 50 further includes a sidewall portion 54, 56 at eachend of the center wall portion. The center wheel assembly 33, 44 islocated between the wall members 48, 50, and secured to the center wheelframe 46. The center wheel frame further includes a pair of mountingmembers 58, 60 (FIG. 9)—one member 58 at the front of the frame 46, andthe other member 60 at the back of the frame 46. Each mounting member58, 60 includes a pair of apertures (as at 62). As seen in FIG. 8, theframe 12 includes bosses (as at 64) that correspond with the apertures.In this fashion, the center wheel frame 46 may be mounted to theelongated frame 12 using screws or the like. When the tool 10 isconnected to a vacuum source, and the vacuum is activated, the centerwall portion (as at 52) of each wall member 48, 50 serves as abaffle—guiding air, dirt, cleaning solution, or the like to the soiluptake opening 24, and minimizing fluid flow loss (FIGS. 7, 8, and 10).

With reference to FIGS. 7, 8, and 10, the elongated frame 12 has a frontchannel 66 for receiving the front squeegee blades 26 a,b, and a backchannel 68 for receiving the back squeegee blades 28 a,b. In furtherdetail, and as seen, for example, in FIGS. 6 and 10, each squeegee blade26, 28 includes an upper squeegee section that is positioned in acorresponding squeegee holder 70, 72, with the squeegee and holdercollectively referred to as a squeegee assembly. The squeegee holders 70a,b (FIG. 6) corresponding with the two first row squeegee blades 26 a,b(FIG. 6) are releasably positioned in the front channel 66 (FIGS. 7 and8); and the squeegee holders 72 a,b (FIG. 6) corresponding with the twosecond row squeegee blades 28 a,b (FIG. 6) are releasably positioned inthe back channel 68 (FIGS. 7 and 8).

The squeegee assemblies are releasably held in place, in theirrespective channels, by the wheel mounting brackets (as at 31 (FIGS.11-14) and 44 (FIG. 6)). For example, and with reference to FIG. 6, foreach squeegee assembly, the end of the assembly that is located at themiddle of the elongated frame 12 is held in place by a corresponding lip(as at 74) that is formed in the center wheel mounting bracket 44. Thesurface of the lip 74 contacts a portion of the inside bottom surface ofthe squeegee blade holder 70 a,b, 72 a,b, thereby releasably holdingthat portion of the squeegee blade assembly in position. The outer endsof the blade assemblies are similarly held in place by similar lipsformed in the wheel mounting brackets at the first and second end wallsof the elongated frame 12 (as at 31, FIGS. 11-14). In this fashion, anyof the squeegee blade assemblies may be easily removed and replaced asneeded—all without the use of any tools and without the removal of anyother component (e.g., a wheel mounting bracket) of the tool 10.

Referring to FIGS. 11 and 13, the wide-area floor cleaning tool 10 isshown in a ready-to-use position on a floor surface 76 (FIG. 11). Thetool 10 is not (yet) being moved forward or backward; and no vacuumsuction is being applied. In this ready-to-use orientation, none of thethree wheels 30, 32, 34 (FIG. 2) is in contact with the floor surface.Each wheel is elevated above the floor surface; and the elongated frame12 is elevated above the floor surface by the support of the squeegeeblades 26, 28. The blades are upright and not bent or deflected.

Referring to FIGS. 12 and 14, the wide-area floor cleaning tool 10 isshown in an in-use position on a floor surface (FIG. 12). In thisparticular in-use position, vacuum suction is being applied, and thetool 10 is being moved in a forward direction. In this position, each ofthe squeegee blades 26, 28 is in a deflected orientation; and each ofthe three wheels 30, 32, 34 (FIG. 2) is in contact with the floorsurface 76. The elongated frame 12 is elevated above the floor surfacedue to the support provided by the wheels. Having all three wheels incontact with (e.g., touching) the floor can be particularly helpful inachieving optimum levels of vacuum suction across the entire width ofthe floor cleaning tool 10 (e.g., from first end wall 20 to second endwall 22 of elongated-frame 12).

When suction from a vacuum source is applied at the soil uptake openingof a wide-area floor cleaning tool of the present invention, the suctionforce tends to be greater at the soil uptake opening than at theelongated-frame ends of the floor cleaning tool. When such a wide-areafloor cleaning tool is positioned on a floor surface (e.g., with frontand back squeegee blades in contact with the floor), the greater suctionforce at the soil uptake opening can cause the section of the elongatedframe that is at or near the soil uptake opening to experience adownward (i.e., toward the floor) pulling force greater than that beingexperienced at the frame ends. This differential in pulling force cancause the elongated frame to flex, with the elongated-frame section atthe soil uptake opening moving downward. The tendency of a givenelongated frame to flex can be due to any of a number of differentfactors, including, for example, soil-uptake-opening location andmaterial composition of the frame. If the soil uptake opening ispositioned centrally relative to the ends of the elongated frame, theframe may be more likely to flex. Also, plastic compositions may resultin a flexible frame.

In accordance with an aspect of the invention, a wheel is provided atthe soil uptake opening, thereby reducing, minimizing, or eveneliminating such elongated frame flex. And in reducing or minimizingthis flex, the wheel at the soil uptake opening facilitates properorientation of the front and back squeegee blades along the width of thewide-area floor cleaning tool (e.g., from elongated-frame first end tosecond end), thereby promoting optimum levels of vacuum suction alongthis width. If desired, the wheel at the soil uptake opening may bethought of as a stop; if the particular elongated frame is a flexibleframe, then when suction from a vacuum source is applied at the soiluptake opening so as to exert a downward (i.e., toward the floor)pulling force, the wheel at the soil uptake opening contacts thefloor—and stops, limits, or prevents downward movement of the elongatedframe.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the wide-area floorcleaning tool may include a wheel at a first end of the elongated frame,a wheel at a second end of the elongated frame, and a wheel at a soiluptake opening of the elongated frame. If desired, the floor cleaningtool may be constructed and arranged such that the wheel at the soiluptake opening is at a height similar to that of the end wheels. Inother words, the bottom of each of the three wheels may be coplanar withthe bottom of the other two wheels. Alternatively, the floor cleaningtool may be constructed and arranged such that the wheel at the soiluptake opening is positioned slightly higher than the wheel at the firstend of the elongated frame and the wheel at the second end of theelongated frame. In other words, the bottom of the wheel at the soiluptake opening may be slightly higher than the bottom of each of the twoend wheels.

A slightly higher soil-uptake-opening wheel can be especially usefulwhen employing an elongated frame in which the elongated-frame sectionat the soil uptake opening moves slightly downward in use (e.g., whenexternal forces that include a downward component or vector (e.g.,vacuum suction forces, or forces transmitted from a user via a vacuumwand) are applied to the floor cleaning tool). When vacuum suction isapplied, and the floor cleaning tool is being moved forward or backwardwith the squeegee blades in a deflected orientation, typically the firstand second end wheels will contact the floor surface before thesoil-uptake-opening wheel does. In this fashion, desirable levels ofvacuum suction are achieved promptly along the entire width of theelongated frame (e.g., from elongated-frame first end to second end). Ifdesired, the bottom of each of the two end wheels may be coplanar withthe bottom of the other end wheel. Also, if desired, thesoil-uptake-opening wheel may be positioned from about 0.010 inch toabout 0.050 inch higher than the first and second end wheels.

A wide-area floor cleaning tool, in accordance with the principles ofthe invention, may be made of any suitable material(s), and may be madeusing any suitable manufacturing technique(s). Also, the tool may be ofany suitable dimensions. For example, the tool may have a width of fromabout 26 to about 30 inches, a width of about 28 inches, or a width ofabout 48 inches. The elongated frame may be made of a plastic material.The plastic may have a high flexural modulus of elasticity—for example,a flexural modulus of elasticity of about 300,000 PSI or higher, atabout 73° F. The plastic may comprise one or more of a nylon, an acetal,a noryl, and a talc-filled polypropylene. The wheels may be made ofstainless steel. The squeegee blades may be made of a thermoplasticelastomer or a polyurethane. The material used for the squeegee bladesmay have a type A durometer of from about 45 to about 55, or a type Adurometer of about 50. Also, if the elongated frame is made of one ormore plastic compositions, the elongated frame may be made usingthermoplastic injection molding.

In use, a wide-area floor cleaning tool of the invention may be used toclean any of a number of surfaces. For example, the floor cleaning toolmay be used to clean large kitchen areas, hallways, lobbies, largerestrooms, gyms, fitness facilities, and athletic mats. Also, the floorcleaning tool may be used with any suitable vacuum source. For example,the floor cleaning tool may be used with a Kaivac No-Touch Cleaning®system or a Kaivac OmniFlex™ AutoVac system. These systems arecommercially available from Kaivac, Inc. of Hamilton, Ohio.

While the present invention has been illustrated by a description ofvarious embodiments, and while the illustrative embodiments have beendescribed in considerable detail, it is not the intention of theinventors to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the invention tosuch detail. Additional advantages and modifications will readily appearto those skilled in the art. The invention, in its broader aspects, istherefore not limited to the specific details, representative apparatusand methods, and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly,departures may be made from such details without departing from thespirit or scope of the inventors' general inventive concept.

What is claimed is:
 1. A wide-area vacuum/squeegee-head floor cleaningtool for use with a vacuum source, the floor cleaning tool comprising:an elongated frame including a top, a front, a back, a first end, asecond end, and a soil uptake opening positioned between the first andsecond ends; at least one squeegee blade at the front and extendingbetween the first and second ends; at least one squeegee blade at theback and extending between the first and second ends; a first wheel atthe first end; a second wheel at the second end; and a third wheel atthe soil uptake opening, the first, second, and third wheels constructedand arranged to support the elongated frame above a floor surface whenthe squeegee blades at the front and back are in contact with the floorsurface in a deflected orientation and vacuum suction is applied to thefloor cleaning tool by the vacuum source.
 2. The floor cleaning tool ofclaim 1 wherein the soil uptake opening is centrally positioned betweenthe elongated-frame first and second ends.
 3. The floor cleaning tool ofclaim 2 wherein the third wheel is centrally positioned between theelongated-frame first and second ends.
 4. The floor cleaning tool ofclaim 3 wherein the elongated frame, the squeegee blade at the front,and the squeegee blade at the back assist in defining an interior space,the floor cleaning tool further including an interior frame at the soiluptake opening, the interior frame including a first wall member in theinterior space and extending between the front and back of the elongatedframe.
 5. The floor cleaning tool of claim 4 wherein the first wallmember includes a portion generally perpendicular to the front and backof the elongated frame.
 6. The floor cleaning tool of claim 5 whereinthe first wall member portion includes a generally vertical surface. 7.The floor cleaning tool of claim 6 wherein the elongated frame has alongitudinal axis and the interior frame further includes a second wallmember spaced laterally from the first wall member relative to thelongitudinal axis, the second wall member in the interior space andextending between the front and back of the elongated frame.
 8. Thefloor cleaning tool of claim 7 wherein the second wall member includes aportion generally perpendicular to the front and back of the elongatedframe.
 9. The floor cleaning tool of claim 8 wherein the second wallmember portion includes a generally vertical surface.
 10. The floorcleaning tool of claim 9 wherein the third wheel is positioned betweenthe interior frame first and second wall members.
 11. The floor cleaningtool of claim 1 wherein the at least one squeegee blade at the frontincludes at least two squeegee blades positioned end-to-end in a firstrow, and the at least one squeegee blade at the back includes at leasttwo squeegee blades positioned end-to-end in a second row.
 12. Awide-area squeegee-head floor cleaning tool for use with a vacuumsource, the floor cleaning tool comprising: an elongated frame includinga top, a front, a back, a first end, a second end, and a soil uptakeopening positioned between the first and second ends; at least onesqueegee blade at the front and extending between the first and secondends; at least one squeegee blade at the back and extending between thefirst and second ends, with the elongated frame, the squeegee blade atthe front, and the squeegee blade at the back assisting in defining aninterior space; a first wheel at the first end; a second wheel at thesecond end; a third wheel at the soil uptake opening; and an interiorframe at the soil uptake opening, the interior frame including a firstwall member in the interior space and extending between the front andback of the elongated frame, the first, second, and third wheelsconstructed and arranged to support the elongated frame above a floorsurface when the squeegee blades at the front and back are in contactwith the floor surface in a deflected orientation and vacuum suction isapplied to the floor cleaning tool by the vacuum source.
 13. The floorcleaning tool of claim 12 wherein the soil uptake opening is centrallypositioned between the elongated-frame first and second ends.
 14. Thefloor cleaning tool of claim 12 wherein the third wheel is centrallypositioned between the elongated-frame first and second ends.
 15. Thefloor cleaning tool of claim 12 wherein the first wall member includes aportion generally perpendicular to the front and back of the elongatedframe.
 16. The floor cleaning tool of claim 15 wherein the first wallmember portion includes a generally vertical surface.
 17. The floorcleaning tool of claim 12 wherein the elongated frame has a longitudinalaxis and the interior frame further includes a second wall member spacedlaterally from the first wall member relative to the longitudinal axis,the second wall member in the interior space and extending between thefront and back of the elongated frame.
 18. The floor cleaning tool ofclaim 17 wherein the second wall member includes a portion generallyperpendicular to the front and back of the elongated frame.
 19. Thefloor cleaning tool of claim 18 wherein the second wall member portionincludes a generally vertical surface.
 20. The floor cleaning tool ofclaim 17 wherein the third wheel is positioned between the interiorframe first and second wall members.
 21. The floor cleaning tool ofclaim 12 wherein the at least one squeegee blade at the front includesat least two squeegee blades positioned end-to-end in a first row, andthe at least one squeegee blade at the back includes at least twosqueegee blades positioned end-to-end in a second row.
 22. A wide-areavacuum/squeegee-head floor cleaning tool for use with a vacuum source,the floor cleaning tool comprising: an elongated frame including a top,a front, a back, a first end, a second end, and a soil uptake openingpositioned between the first and second ends; at least two squeegeeblades positioned end-to-end in a first row at the front; at least twosqueegee blades positioned end-to-end in a second row at the back; afirst wheel at the first end; a second wheel at the second end; and athird wheel at the soil uptake opening, the first, second, and thirdwheels constructed and arranged to support the elongated frame above afloor surface when the squeegee blades at the front and back are incontact with the floor surface in a deflected orientation and vacuumsuction is applied to the floor cleaning tool by the vacuum source. 23.The floor cleaning tool of claim 22 wherein the soil uptake opening iscentrally positioned between the elongated-frame first and second ends.24. The floor cleaning tool of claim 22 wherein the third wheel iscentrally positioned between the elongated-frame first and second ends.25. The floor cleaning tool of claim 22 wherein the elongated frame, thesqueegee blades at the front, and the squeegee blades at the back assistin defining an interior space, the floor cleaning tool further includingan interior frame at the soil uptake opening, the interior frameincluding a first wall member in the interior space and extendingbetween the front and back of the elongated frame.
 26. The floorcleaning tool of claim 25 wherein the first wall member includes aportion generally perpendicular to the front and back of the elongatedframe.
 27. The floor cleaning tool of claim 26 wherein the first wallmember portion includes a generally vertical surface.
 28. The floorcleaning tool of claim 25 wherein the elongated frame has a longitudinalaxis and the interior frame further includes a second wall member spacedlaterally from the first wall member relative to the longitudinal axis,the second wall member in the interior space and extending between thefront and back of the elongated frame.
 29. The floor cleaning tool ofclaim 28 wherein the second wall member includes a portion generallyperpendicular to the front and back of the elongated frame.
 30. Thefloor cleaning tool of claim 29 wherein the second wall member portionincludes a generally vertical surface.
 31. The floor cleaning tool ofclaim 28 wherein the third wheel is positioned between the interiorframe first and second wall members.